Opportunities and Challenges for Palestinian Women’s Participation in Politics and Public Life, Meeting in Ramallah, 15th November 2017

On Wednesday 15th November, Forward Thinking reconvened with the group of Palestinian women who had participated in September’s workshop in Ireland. This meeting took place in the context of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement and uncertainties about its implementation. Focusing on the opportunities and challenges for women’s participation in politics and public life presented by reconciliation, participants explored the value of engaging with existing mechanisms – such as the Union of Women – and the value of working across the diversity of organisations, parties and institutions.

Participants were in clear agreement that women’s roles should not be limited to representing ‘women’s issues’. They therefore mapped out strategies to ensure that women have more seats at the table ‘as women’, but also that their perspectives are represented ‘as citizens’.